For a patient with an oxygen saturation of 84%, what is the most appropriate treatment?

When a patient presents with an oxygen saturation of 84%, this indicates a significant level of hypoxemia, which requires immediate and effective intervention to increase the oxygen levels in the blood. The most appropriate treatment in this scenario is the use of supplemental oxygen delivered through a nonrebreathing mask.

A nonrebreathing mask is designed to deliver a high concentration of oxygen (up to 90% or more), which is crucial in cases of severe hypoxemia. It has one-way valves that prevent exhaled air from re-entering the mask, ensuring that the patient receives primarily oxygen-enriched air. This approach is particularly effective in emergency situations where rapid improvement in oxygen saturation is necessary.

In contrast, other options, while they may be beneficial in different circumstances, do not provide the same level of immediate oxygenation. For example, using a nasopharyngeal airway with assisted ventilations or supplemental oxygen may help in certain cases, but the focus should first be on addressing the low oxygen saturation directly. Likewise, nasal cannulas, while useful for delivering oxygen, typically do not provide sufficient oxygen concentration for patients with such low saturation levels. Therefore, the nonrebreathing mask stands out as the best choice for this critically low